Apparatus for manufacturing carbureted hydrogen gas.



B. VAN STEENBERGH.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CARBURETED HYDROGEN GAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I914.

l mfimg Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

m v i Attorney 4%7 B. VAN STEENBERGH.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CARBURETED HYDROGEN GAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, I914.

LMQWUQ Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. I V. JNVENTOR 2 t 22 ,z I M I J BURHANS van srnnnnnaon, oreosnnn, new roan.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CABB'I'J'Rllilli'EID HYDROGEN GAS.

"menace.-

fipeclflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed July 2, 1914. Serial No. 848,600.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BURHNB VAN STEEN- prison, a citizen of the United States, residin atGoshen, in theoounty of Orange Band tate of New York, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing fiarbureted Hydrogen Gas, of which the following is a specification.

Z3113, This invention relates .to apparatus for manufacturing carbureted hydrogen gas, "the construction and advantages of which jwill be hereinafter set forth.

J The matter constituting my invention herein will be defined in the claims. I will now describe the details of construction of my improved apparatus by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of the generator, comprising the decomposing and fixing chambers and electric heaters. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal sectional View, taken on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of one of the units or sections of the genera-. tor, a portion of said section being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction. Fig. 4 represents a diagrammatic View, illustrating the manner in which the electric heaters are connected up. Fig. 5 represents, on enlarged scale, a transverse section of an electric heater, such as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents, on enlarged scale, a sectional View of an electric heater of modified construction.

The present invention has for its main object the production of an electrically heated generator in which gas may becontinuously generated, electric heating units b ing employed to maintain continuously the exact degree of heat. which will best effoot the various chemical changes, such as f uniform candle power, and of substantially uniform volume will be continuously generated and delivered for immediate and con tinuous use for power in a gas engine, or for other purposes, or-for storage in aholde'r for subsequent distribution.

A further object of the; invention iStfO provide a generator composed of a'series of units, each complete v,in itself, any one of which units may readily be changed, repaired or renewed, in case its operative elements should break down or the unit become defective for any reason, whereby the a paratus may be quickly restored to efiective operative condition.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide means whereby the deposition or partial depositlon of carbon, by destructive decomposition of hydrocarbon oil upon the heating surface will be prevented, thereby maintaining the illuminating quality of the gas constant, as the same is produced, and efi'ectinggreat economy in the operation of the apparatus.

The generator is preferably composed of a plurality of superposed units, each unit carrymg one or more electrical heaters and one or more tiles or intercepting members adapted to present a very extended lieating surface and cause the superheated steam and the vapors of the hydrocarbon oil to thoroughly commingle and be decomposed to produce a fixed illuminating gas. 1'

Referring now particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the base of the generator, 2 the top or cover, made of iron or of plate iron with a fire clay lining, between which is located a series of unit sections, alike in form and construction. The base 1 is composed of a pan-like member, having a plate iron shell 3, a lining of asbestos 4:, and an interior facing or lining 5 of fire-brick. A pipe 6 opens into this bottom section and through said pipe is introduced a supply of steam and oil. The steam will, preferably, be superheated and be thus used for injectmg and atomizing a sufficient proportion of comparatively heavy hydrocarbon oil, commonly called gas oil, to supply the desired quantit, of carbon to combine with the oxygen of t e steam to for-in, during decomposition at the required temperature, carbon monoxid and set the hydrogen free. The steam may also be commingled with the requisite proportion of oil vapor and the mixture preheated or superheated in a suitable chamber and then supplied in a regulated stream through pipe 6 to the base of the generator. Pipe 6 is provided with a controlling valve 0 for this purpose; and any suitable auto- 10, the outer edge of which terminates in substantial alinement with the inner, edge of the inwardly-projectin flange 8,ith 'e're by forming an annular c amberorjrecess. One or more tubes 11" (two 'bein shown in the resent instance) pass-throng the walls of t e section and are clampe tightly in place by nuts 12, whichikb'earagamst the Washers 13, provided wit concave (faces; adapted to fit the curvature'of the shell or ring 7, l he unit section'smay be rectangular or of other desired shape in crossjs'ection.

Mounted in, each tube is an electric heater, which may be constructed in the following mannenzFinely-ground silica and finelyground carbonate of lime are mixed with sodium silicate diluted with water and the pasty mass thus formed is wiped about or molded around a relatively thin cardboard cylinder-ortube 14 =and then allowed to harden. The outer coating is designated by 15.- "Mountedf within the'central portion of the tubular member thus formed is amass of granular carbon 16-, and carbon electrodes "16 and 16 are forced into the ends of the cardboard cylinder and tend to compress the particles of granular carbon to a greater or lessextent and to thus establish a connection from end to -end of the tube between the outer electrodes'ltif and 1h". The electric heater thus produced is' 'placed within the iron or other tube 11, and the outer coab ing, formed as above described, serves to in-.

The cardboard will, when: "the; current passed through theheater, be. burned away, becoming carbonized and formingg in "e'ifect I apart of the electricconductor.

" owing to the presenceof the'granulated carbon extending longitudinally through the center of the: heaters, and any desired number through the heating -,u'nit,' the heat will be localized more or less in the lane of each. unit section,acros's and throug ,which the commingled steam fland'oil vapor must ppe p n qif the generatori-i r i I -In'. each'unit-isection, o -within walls or? vthef generator, adj acenttor the heater tujbesf jll are located a "plurality of-"firebrick 1showniii=Figl 1,01 in other desired manner.

Thesebars become heated by heat radiated from theelectric heaters to approximately the same degree as the tubes 11, and aid by their ez rt ended heated surfaces in splittin u hydrocarbon oil ofvapor into gases 0% il illuminating quality, or fixedhydro- "carbon hollow filledwitli granular carbon, and having carbon electrodes ferced into the ends may befused instead of the tubes 11 1'5 1e above. describedi .1 -w :The' electrodes will compress the partlcles of carbon to a greateror less extent and {thus establish a connection" from end to ehd -ci the tube. I The bodyof franular 'carbon compressed between the en s of theelectrodes 16 and 16" forms a resistance, by means of which a succession-of small erish rt electric arcs are 'produced, thusiconwertmg the electric energy into heatf thereby heating the tube at that parthhlled' with the granular carbon I from the "inside to the surface, The heat is localized-Within: thehfire brickwallsof the generator-or unitf's'ections due togthe Pmuch: greaterresistance ofi'ered by the "granular-"t'sa'rbonthan that which is-oifer'ed by the earbon electrodes, and such localized 'heatis 'mrpartedtojadjacent tiles 17 and in- V tervening spaceyso as'to produce substantially. uniformly heated. surfaces-and zones. "The cornmihgled @steamand oil vapor will pass umformly around;and in contact with, suchheated surfaces in their fio'w up through the decomposing clu'miber of the generator and will be'decomp'osed to produce carbon monoxid and hydrogen and a percentage of light carbureted hydrogemor marsh gas, which will be carbureted and enriched with illuminants in 'the upper partof the generaor! a Eachmnitsectionwill be provided with a plurality er lugs or ears 19 which register with; similar *lug'sor: ears formed upon the adjacent section or sections in order that the parts .rnay' be readily'bolted together. Each section willlikewise be'provided-with outwardly-proj ecting lugs 20 to which hooks and *chains, cables or the likemay'batt ache'd when it becomes necessary to elevate hone-of these'ctions with'the view of withfarmin the section below and replacing itibya new section. "In as'sembling the sections they will be so placed that the heaters and ti-les of one sec- :tion willnbearateright: angles, or substantialifi soein relation to-thelres ective heaters; i V p and tiles above andfibeloww hereis'ithus :tlles "o1 '-l;ia;i"s:1'7 which be arranged iprodujc'e'd in the-chamber :ofthe-generator inmate numerous tortuous passages tlirough. which the gases must: ass-'Efrom the lower to the upper portion the generator to the outlet pipe 21, located in the upper section,- or, if .preferred, in the cap or cover, as shown. Any desired number of tile or fire-clay bars 17 may be arranged in checker-brick form betweenthe electric heaters 1416 to rovide the desired-extent of heating surace'and to insure that all the-steam and oil vapor are fbrought' into contact with numerous heated surfaces for efiecting thorough and complete splitting of the oil into constituent gases, or decomposition and recomposition of the elements.

The heaters of the alternate sections are connected to bus-bars 22, 23 and 24, 25, respectively, which bars are connected in circult with a source of energy 26, and a switch 27 controls the circuits.

It will be readily appreciated that an automatic device, such as a thermostat28, may be located within the retort or the outlet thereof to control the temperature by cutting out or cutting in the circuit according to the variations in the'temperature. Thus, the temperature may be kept within fixed limits and practically uniform, and so long as the proper quantity of oil vapor and superheated steam are supplied, the process will be a continuous one.

Above the middle height from the base of the generator-about two-thirds of the height-T provide in thewallof oneof the unit sections, two or more oil supply pipes 30, each having a valve c and a spray or atomizing nozzle at through which a suitable hydro-carbon is s11 plied for carbureting the gases generated n the lower part of the generator, or for supplyingoil to be split into illuminating gases at the appropriate temperature. A

A transformer 29 is also, preferably connected with each-set for pair of tubular heaters in a unit section for controlling the electromotive forces, and consequently the tempei ature in each set of heaters. The heat in the different zones ofthe'generator will be regulated and controlled to the exact degree required for either splitting up the oil'into its constituent gases of high illuminating power, or producing decomposition of the steam and oil when a large volume of gas is desired. I r

The iron tubes 11, extending through the generator, will be covered with a fire proof paste or wash 18, preferably composed of lfime and magnesium moistened with a very dilute solution of sodium silicate for pre venting the deposition of carbon on the iron. This coating also prevents iron, when heated to incandescence, from spoiling the-illumi- "n'ating quality of the gas by causing deposi- "tion of carbon; it also aidsby catalytic action in splitting up the oil into wof high illuminating quality. The fire-clay'heatertube, shown in Fig. 6, may also be coated with this protecting paste, 18.

In case it is desired to generate only high candle power illuminating gas, and not decompose steam, then all-the electric heaters will be heated to a constantly maintained temperature of about 800 F. to 850 F. or at that degree which experience shows to be best for heating the steam so that it will exert its catalytic action in aiding to split the petroleum vapors into the largest possible percentage of high illuminant gases of the ethylene and ,ethene series. The surfaces of the electric heater, composed of coatings of metallic oxids, such as oxid of calcium and oxid of magnesium mixed with dilute silicate of sodium, -will 'be maintained at the best temperature for exerting the desired catalytic action to produce the largest possible percentage of high illuminants from the hydrocarbon oil used. The hydrocarbon oil or vapor injected by jets of steam through pipes 6 and 30 will be split or resolved into gases, such as ethylene-(LIL; acetylene (1H,; and methane-CH, The heat will never be carried so high as to cause destructive decomposition of the oil vapors and a resulting deposit of part of the carbon in the form of lamp-black or hard carbon or decomposition of steam. Gasification of the hydrocarbon, however, will be completeso that there will be little or no subsequent condensable matter in the ,gas after passing from the generator. This is practically, a continuous process for generating illuminating gas of uniform quality or candle-power and without waste of hydrocarbons.

The parafiin hydrocarbons, in by far the larger part of the various samples of American and Russian petroleum constitute the principal, and sometimes almost the entire, substance, liquid and solid, of these oils and waxes. The gaseous parafiins in their illuminating quality are far inferior to the gaseous hydrocarbons of the olefin series. By'aid of properly regulated heat with auxiliary help of catalytics, such as steam and any one or several of the oxids of calcium, barium, strontium or magnesium in a heated state, these parafiins in heated vapors may be split chemically so as to produce large percentages of permanent gases of the olefin series and of the acetylene series, both of which are far more powerful as illuminants than are the paraflin gases.

In the usual method of converting petroleum or its ,distillates into permanent gases forilluminating purposes there is more or less separation of solid carbon from the heated petroleum'vapor with a correspondingly large production of parafiin gasof low illuminating quality. The deteriorating and wasteful production of .this low grade of gas I avoid by my above described I process 0 The electrodes an resistance material bemaking as.

ing inclosed in the tubes, the heatis more evenly distributed, so that there is'no ha-i .ing as a catalytic agent is also an important feature of my invention, for causing the oil'to be split into high illuminants of the olefin series, and preventing the deposit of- -lamp-black or hard carbon.

- having a voltage and amperage adapted to a The process herein described is made the subject of my co-pending application, Serial Number 625467.

In conducting the process of making illuminating gas in this apparatus, the operation is substantially as follows: By supplying or conducting the electric current to the heating tubes in the lowermost three or four of the unit sections-about two-thirds of the height from the bott'om-in a properly regulated voltage and amperage, the heating' tubes, particularly the portions containing the granulated carbon within the interior firebrick lining, will be heated to a temperature ranging between 1600 F. and 2000 F., and preferably between 1600 F.

and 1800 F. At the same time the elec- 'tric current is conducted to the heating tubes of the two uppermost unit sections heat the gnanular carbon to a temperature ranging between 700 F. and 900 F., so

i as to heat the tubes and the adjacent fireclay tiles to about 800? F. or'850 F. Having suitably heated the lower and upper portions or compartments of the generator to the respective temperatures above stated,

' a supply of superheated steam and-preheated oil vapor, suitably mingled, is admitted through pipe 6 into the base of the generator.

Here decomposition is effected y passage of the steam and oil vapor in contact with the heated surfaces at-about 1800 F., causing decomposition of the steam by the oxygen thereof combining with ,carbon inthe oil and setting the hydrogen 3 the hydrogen of the hydro-carbon, but prefoftthe steam free; also partially setting free erably producing a percentage of light carbureted hydrogen or marsh gas (CH This marsh gas or methane will be retained in the gas at about a white heat, ranging between 1500 F. to 1600. F., and will pass on with the hydrogen and the carbon mon- 0xid resulting from. the decomposition of -;th ers team. These hi hlyheated gases pass upward above the ecomposing zone and carbon oi into the upper or carbureting zone of the generator,compr1s1ng two or more of the unit sections -.at-.the top of the generator. Assoon as the gases. above described are generated a supply of'a suitable hydrol is injected through -the pipes 30 and discharged therefrom in an atomized condition centrally into the heated gasifying space of-the generator. The resulting hydro-carbon vapors will be immediately combinedwith and carried up by the hydro gen and carbon monoxid into contact with the properly heated surfaces of the electric heating tubes and tiling in the two or more upper unit sections of the generator where a uniform heat is maintained of about 800 F., sufficient to produce complete gasification of all of the hydro-carbon introduced throughpipes 30. The gasification here will be so complete and uniform that no ,carbon will be deposited and no volatile or unfixed vapor will be passed off. The completed fixed illuminating gas will be passed oil from the outlet pipe 21 to the usual washer or any suitable cleaning apparatus 7 which may be'required. Incontinuing this process, thevhigh heat of the lower zone or compartment'of. the generator is constantly maintained, resulting in the complete decomposition of the steam and carbon without deposit'of black or hard carbon on the heating tubes or fire-clay tiling. There will be no ash deposited. The upper zone of the generator, called the carbureting compartment, will also be heated to a constantly maintained temperature of about 800 F., so that the hydrocarbon admitted for carbureting the poorer gases will be resolved into its constituent gases, such as ethylene (C I-L), and acetylene (C H and a per centage of methane (CH The heat will never be carried so high as to cause destructive decomposition of the oil vapors and a resulting deposit .ofpart of the carbon in the form of lamp-black or hard carbon. Gasification, however, will be complete, so that there will be no subsequent condensable matter in the gas after passing from the generator. This is a practical, continuous process for generating illuminating gas of uniform quality or candle-power and without waste of hydrocarbons.

In case it is desired not to decompose steam in the zones of thegenerator, a comparatively low temperature, varying between 800 F. and 850" F., is maintained in all of the heaters, and the steam will carry the oil vaporsinto contact with the heated surfaces where the'oil vapors will be split up, so as to produce the greatest possible amount of highilluminants of the olefin series.

While I have shown and described the electricheating tubes arranged in unit sections for convenlence ofconstructmn-and repair, I

1,144,soo

1. A generator for producing gas, com-- prising a series of superposed unit sections, the sections being alike in form, and each section carrying an electric heater and tiling adapted to be heated thereby.

2. A generator for producing gas, comprising a series of superposed unit sections alike in form, each section carrying a plurality of electric heaters, and a plurality of tiles adapted to be heated by said heaters.

3. A generator for producing gas, comprising a plurality of superposed unit sections, each section being provided with means whereby it may be secured to the next adjacent section or sections, electric heaters carried by each section, and a plurality of tiles likewise carried by each section.

4. A generator for producing gas, comprising a series of superposed unit sections, each section being composed of a metallic shell provided with a lining of non-conduct ing material adjacent to the shell and an interior lining of refractory material, a plurality of heater pipes extending through said section linings, an electric heater in each of said pipes, and a plurality of tiles extending across the sections adjacent to the pipes.

5. A generator for producing gas, comprising a series of superposed unit sections, each section being composed of a shell provided with a lining of asbestos adjacent to the shell, and aninterior fire-brick lining adjacent to the asbestos lining, one or more heater pipes extending through said shell and lining. an electric heater having electrodes in each of said pipes, and a plurality of tiles extending across the sections.

and adjacent to the pipes.

6. A generator for producing gas, comprising a series of superposed unit sections, each section comprising a shell provided with an inwardly projecting flange, a lining of asbestos adjacent to the shell, a fire-brick linin resting upon the flange, a plurality of plpes extending through said linings,

an electric heater in each of said pipes, and a plurality of tiles above the pipes.

A generator for producing gas, comprlsmg a plurality of superposed unit sections, each section comprisingametallic shell provided with an inwardly projecting flange, an asbestos lining adjacent to the outer wall of the shell, fire-brick mounted upon the inwardly projecting flange and abutting against the asbestos lining, a plurality of pipes passing through the shell and lining, means for securing said pipes in position, an electric heater mounted in each of said pipes, and a plurality of tiles located above the pipes.

8. The combination with the walls of a generating chamber having suitable nonconducting material therein, of one or more heater pipes passing through said walls, carbon electrodes in the opposite ends of said pipes, granular resistance material in the pipes between the electrodes, means for admitting a hydrocarbon or a liquid car rying carbonaceous matter in contact with said heater pipes, and a gas outlet pipe, substantially as described.

9. A generator for producing gas, comprising a plurality of superposed sections, each section being provided with fire-brick lining, a series of heaterpipes extending through the section, an electric heater mounted in each of said pipes, and means for producing localized intense heat in said heater pipes within the walls of the generator.

10. In a gas generator, the combination with a chamber having non-conducting walls, of pipes extending through the walls. electric heaters in the pipes, a covering of metallic oxids on the outer surfaces of the pipes for preventing the deposit of carbon or lamp-black'from hydrocarbon o1l on the heater pipes, and means for supplymg hydrocarbon oil or vapor to the chamber in contact with said pipes.

11. In a gas generator, the combination with a decomposing chamber, of a series of heater pipes extending therethrough, means in the pipes for producing an intense localized heat in the parts of the pipes within the walls of the generator, and coatings on the pipes for preventing the deposition of carbon thereon.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURHANS VAN STEENBERGH. Witnesses:

JOHN B. Lznnomm, W. F. INMAN. 

